Kimi The Builder

A pretty nice HG Zaku kit

The HGSEED Dom Trooper was a kit that I regard highly, admittedly I may have set a VERY high standard as I come into this build.

Even though I know for a fact that the Dom Trooper is a late HGSEED release kit and comparing the two and expecting the older kit to be better doesn’t really make sense. However, the HG Zaku Warrior turned out, well quite good even when considering that I was having unreasonable expectations of it.

Which slowly making this to be one of my favorite kits to build this year.

Oh, before I forget. Kimi here, and today I will be doing a review on the HG 1/144 ZGMF-1000 Zaku Warrior (HGSEED N0.18) and since this is our time reviewing a kit based on this MS from the Gundam SEED Destiny, So like last week we will be first doing a history lesson about this awesome MS.

So without further ado, let us get into it, shall we?

The History and Development of the ZGMF-1000 Zaku Warrior 

Model name:

• ZGMF-1000

Classification:

• Mass-Production Multi-Mode Mobile Suit

Weapon systems:

• Hand Grenades
• Shoulder Shield
• MA-M8 Beam Tomahawk
• MMI-M533 Beam Assault Rifle
• M68 “Cattus” 500mm Recoilless Rifle

Height:

• 17.19m

Armour Material:

• Unknown

Powerplant:

• Ultracompact Energy Battery

Total Thrust:

• Unknown

Effective Sensor Radius:

• Unknown

Crew:

• 1 pilot

The signing of the Junius Treaty marks the end of two things, one it was an indication to end the hostilities between PLANT and ALLIANCE. Two it was as well marks the end of ZAFT’s MS Production hell.

Why? Well, the reason being for that is because ZAFT’s have been mass producing alot of different kinds of MS for different roles and unlike the ALLIANCE or the Three ships Alliance, ZAFT doesn’t really have an MS which is a jack of all trades. This, in turn, takes a huge toll in ZAFT’s manufacturing capabilities because that unlike the other factions they need to have all of that different MS for different roles since they are fighting enemies from all fronts.

Which prompted them to start designing MS that would be able to take on the role of jack of all trades. They started the program with learning through their past experiences going against the Alliance’s Strike Gundam. Seeing how the Strike is capable to just change its loadout on a fly gives them some idea on how their upcoming grunt MS should be.

That is why even before the end of the war ZAFT was already set to work on that task, having three design teams competing with each other in designing the new Grunt MS for ZAFT. You have one team working on the ZGMF-XX09T Dom Trooper Original Spec Type, another on the Gouf Ignited initial design and the third team, working on the ZGMF-X999A Zaku Trial Type.

Though eventually, the Zaku was the MS design that ends up being the one selected because it was seen by many in the ZAFT High Command to be the only one in between the three which really managed to meet the required specification and the one MS which was seen to be one of the most cost-effective grunt MS for the ZAFT to mass-produce.

Which is why for the first phase of the ZAFT’s Millenium Series MS modernization program, the Zaku Warrior was the one chosen to be the main MS to replace many of ZAFT’s existing MS’s for both the Space Forces and the earth-based forces.

Although, it must be said that for a Grunt unit, the Zaku Warrior does boast some very impressive standard equipment, like the shoulder, mounted anti-beam spiked shield unit, Hand Grenades, the MA-M8 Beam Tomahawk and the MMI-M533 Beam Assault Rifle. There were as well some units that were equipped with the M68 ‘Cattus’ 500mm Recoilless Rifle which was only given to units that were involved solely with anti-ship or anti-fortress operations.

But looking at the Standard MS, there isn’t any indication that the Zaku looked any different than most of ZAFT’s existing MS. So you might be wondering, what part of this MS which is taken from lessons learned from the Alliance’s Strike Gundam?

What makes this MS different than the rest what ZAFT has made in the past is the fact that ZAFT’s Zaku Warrior is given the ability to mount different WIZARD weapon platform system. WIZARD weapons platform system was something that the ZAFT developed from their past experiences dealing with the Alliance’s Strike Gundam. Although unlike the Strike’s backpack system where it could be replaced in the field, the WIZARD weapons platform system can’t be changed so easily in the field. Since there are some significant changes that are needed to be done on the MS.

But the fact the role of the Zaku could be changed with the swapping of the Wizard pack does make the MS to be quite capable MS. Honestly, the Zaku’s ability to use different Weapon’s package does make the Zaku to be one of the most invaluable assets in ZAFT’s inventory. It was as well noted that in the right hands the MS as well can be quite a capable MS. During the incident in the Armory one, there was said there was one unit of the Zaku Warrior that was able to hold itself well against 3 of the stolen Second Stage Gundams before it was relieved by the Sword Impulse Gundam.

Best of all the said MS wasn’t mounting any special WIZARD weapons package system too. Which does prove the point of the said MS being one very capable MS.

It was as well noted, that to boost morale amongst its troops, they as well allowed their Ace Pilots to have their MS to be painted in their custom colors. Which is why during the Second PLANT – Alliance War, we get to see many Zaku’s in different custom colors in combat during the war.

The Zaku was up until this day was used by the ZAFT to keep the peace and it was as well one that is beside the Gundam is starting to be the new Symbol of ZAFT’s power.

With that ends the History lesson, let us now go back to the review section, shall we?

The Review

When I worked on the HG DOM Trooper last year, I was really impressed by how the kit was, so as I was getting to this I was kind of already had very high expectations of this kit.

Even though honestly, the kit didn’t really live up to the HIGH unreasonable expectations that were set for it. But yet I still manage to find myself to have alot of fun all through the process of building this awesome kit.

From the point I started till to the point the whole building process ended, there was never a time where I didn’t find myself enjoying the process. Though I admit that I do find it quite surprising since there isn’t really anything special here.

The kit is mostly a more traditionally designed HG kit with no inner frame present, and the polycaps seeing taking on the primary role in holding the joints together. It was mostly something that I was expecting when I came into this build. So you might be wondering then what is it about this kit that I was finding myself quite surprised with?

Well, let us start with the basics, for starters, almost all the HG Zaku Warrior individual parts fit well, the nubs present were annoying but never something of a bother and quite easy to deal with. What’s more, I was surprised to find that this kit has one of the best-colored parts separations that I’ve seen to date. Heck, I would even go as far to say that out of all the HG kits that I’ve picked up, the only one that looks the closest to the box art. even in its unpainted form.

That is how good the color separation for the parts is for the HG Zaku Warrior.

Yes, even though I do admit that there is some paint work that needed to be done here and there. But overall I would not find it to be such a major work since you can take your time to have it sorted out and even if you choose not to, the HG Zaku Warrior would still look quite good as is.

Speaking about the HG Zaku Warrior’s unpainted state, I think that the standard color scheme that was used on the HG Zaku Warrior’s parts looked even better than the one seen in the painted version in the manual and even the ones seen on the box. It is really not every day that I came across a kit that looks better than its own promotional pieces.

Even the articulation on the HG Zaku Warrior is great overall, with alot the parts holding on its poses quite nicely with no issues and even though the kit uses mostly polycaps there aren’t any major issues with the HG Zaku Warrior having any loose parts or joint that is visible here. However if needed one could easily take the part off with no issues if one so needed. This means if you are planning to do any major paintwork you can rest assured that the kit won’t break under stress as you take the attached parts off.

Even though the Wizard weapons package isn’t included with this kit Bandai did make it possible to mount the Wizard pack on this version of the Zaku if you do have extra Zaku Phantom’s Wizard packs lying around that is. It’s really one nice addition that was made by Bandai for this kit here.

But best of all, the kit was one fun kit to work on and it was as well one of the most welcoming too. It’s not too hard for one to pick up and as well I would say that this is one of those kits that is quite a beginner friendly HG kit. Looking at how good the color separation is here and the fact that you really don’t need to do alot of work here further reinforces the idea of a Beginner Friendly HG kit.

Although, it is not to say that everything is fine and dandy here. Because there is something that I encounter while working on this kit which I was a bit bothered by, the awful looking seamlines on the leg unit. This might be my first time after a long while that I encounter seamlines that look this bad, especially on the HG Zaku Warrior’s thighs.

Looking at them, it does indicate that I do have a major seamline removal work ahead of me. Although, I do admit that the seamline fix is not really a complicated one and looking at the surface available for me to work on I think I wouldn’t find myself struggling all that much to remove all the dreaded seamlines.

Though, even with that said to think that I may have to paint over the nicely colored green parts does make me feel a bit sad.

Overall I do enjoy the time I spend here with the kit. It was a fun kit to work on and for an old kit it is one of the most welcoming HG kits that I’ve had the pleasure to work with. It is really a kit that I would recommend to beginners, as well as to those looking for something quick and fun HG kit to spend the weekend with.

And best of all, it looked alot better than its Upcoming MG counterpart.

With that ends the review for the HG 1/144 ZGMF-1000 Zaku Warrior (HGSEED No.18). What do you think of both the kit and the review for this HGSEED kit? Do you share the same thoughts with us or do you think that this kit could’ve been better?

With the HG Zaku Warrior completed, now I finally can move on to some of the newer kits that I have in store and for once I would be able to finally unbox a kit that I’m really looking forward to ever since it was released a few weeks back.

and for once this time it is not an HG kit.

Anyways, we will be back again this week more Let’s Talk Gunpla Segment on the coming Wednesday and we will be back as well on the coming Sunday with a new unboxing! So, do look forward to that!

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Anyways, we shall see all of you again next week, and we hope that you all have an awesome week and weekend ahead! Have an awesome Gunpla building time there as well and until next time!

Ciao!